The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1887-05-10
ANOTHER KIsSASE,
Morton, au EI.ConvIct, Thought bend,
Turns Up Alive,

Morton, an Es.ConvIct, Thought Dead
| Turns Up Alive.
NEw YoRK, May 9.-The Morning Jour
nal says: Dispatches from New Mexic,
have been published stating that John s
Morton, the former President OF the Mar
ket Street Passenger Railway Of Pbiladel
phia, who served term In the Eastern
Penitenliary Of Pennsylvania for over
issuing the company's stock, had died IL
Santa Fe.
Long obituary notices were publlshet
In the Quaker City dailies, aud many be
lieved that an unfortunate man, who hat
been the dupe OF designing scsmps, had
perished far away from homo.
Mr.. Morton, however, looked yery much
alive when he walked into his office in thif
city yesterday and hung up hls hat. He
bad never taken the trouble to contradict
the reports oil his death In the Philsdel.
phia papers, believing that 1t was better
TO let "the dead past bury its dead" Al.
though Mr.. Morton Is well known hero,
having been engaged In the real estate
business since he came East, few have
identified him with the man whose finsn.
cial transactions convulsed Philadelphia a
few years ago.
Tho discovery came about in q very
curious way. Mr.. Morton, while In The
zenith OF his power as a leading financier
Of Philadelphia, was appointed President
OF tho eo.called Permanent Exhibition
which succeeded the great Centennial
show. Under his management the OK.
hibision was booming slcug, when bis
disgrace came and the scheme at once
collapsed.
Lsat week the affairs OF the deiunct
company were being wound up and no.
tlces were published that tho final diyi.
dend OF the concern would be paid to the
stockholdera. The dividend had been
realized from the sale Of the company's
property at public auction. Among thosa
who called and presented claims was ],
Howard Gendoii, prominent lawyer Of
Philadelphia and asaignee OF John s.
Morton. To the astonishment of the off.
GERS OF the Exhibition Company, LAWYER
Gsndell declared that Mr.. Morton wes
not'dead, but WAS in the real estate bust
ness.
He also said that ho had seon his client
within 4 week aud that he WIS in perfect
health. When asked why Morton had
not denied the published rsports OF his
death Dir. Gendeli only shrugged his
shoulders and refused to answer. He
also declined to cay whe,e Mr.. Morton'e
place OF business was, but it was readily
ascertained by q Journal representative,
In 1877 financial circles Of Philadelpbia
were astounded to learn that there had
been an enormous overiRsus OF the stock
OF the Market Street Passenger Railway,
The company was one of the largest and
weslthiest in the Quaker City, and ita
stock with q par value Of $50 share, road
lily sold at 5000 per shsre shove par.
1t WAS ascertained accidentally that
there were large blocks Of stock being
hypothecsted by private partiea, and it
was soon discovered that many Thousand
shares had been issued Illegally.
After thorough investigation it was
discovered that the stock had been issued
by the President, John s. Morton, and
the treaaurer, J. K. Hahn. They were
Interested in all kinds OF wildcat schemes,
and Whenever they needed money they
simply issued stock and negotiated it:
Among the enterprises in which they
had invested was the purchase of the sole
right 70 publish the official catalogue Of
the Centennial Exhibition, for which thew
paid $4,000 and probably lost twice AS
much. 1t was Rnid that thsy were actually
forming o company for the manufacture OF
planks from sawdust. No scheme had
been too visionary for them to invest in.
and their ill-gotten money melted away
in their HANDY.
Their trial was long, and finally both
Morton and Hahn were sentenced TO i'm
prleonment in the Eastern Penitentiary,
Morton, who comes from one OF the best
known and wealthiest families in Pennsyl.
vania, is a grandeon Of ono OF the siynrrs
OF the Declaration OF Independence, His
family have lived in Chester and Delaware
counties in Pennsylvania sircs the time
oi William Penn and are highly respected.
Ono OF the principal stations on the Phil
adelphia, Wilmington d Blltimore rail-
road is called Morton, owing to the vast
estates OF the family around there.
Morton served his term, with comnu.
tation Tor good behavior, and upon his re.
lease went West. From time to time he
was heard Of in Colorado and New Mexico
and it wes supposed that he was doing
well there. It appears, however, that he
came East quietly and engaged in business
in this city. The expense Of his trial had
disslpsted his large fortune aud bic invest
msnts turned out very unproftsble.
There ia secret behind this which
many think hss been tho real cauee of
Morton's downfall. 1t WAS elected at the
trial that he was devoted believer in
spiritusliam and that many Of his wild in.
vestmsnts had been made by the advice
Of nediuns. He has stiiI kept pp his
faith in the belief that he is surrounded
by the spirits OF departed friends who
watch over him and guide all his
movements. 1t is understood that since
he has resided here be has contiu-
ued his belief in mediums and has spent
sums OF money upon those who have
promised him speedy return Of his lost
fortune. He fully believes that he will
once more regain his position as leading
light OF the financial world. This has
caused his friends much sorrow, who fear
that his trouble has proven too much for
Tor him and that his mind is weakening.
The utmost sympathy is expressed for
him end for his unfortunate family.
An Uneasy Feeling.